Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old former Ivy League student accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, continues to attract a fervent following online and in the streets — but experts say his supporters’ push for jury nullification in his high-profile trial is unlikely to succeed.
Mangione allegedly shot and killed Thompson, a Minnesota father of two, outside a New York City shareholder conference on Dec. 4, 2024. Authorities claim he left behind journals detailing his plans, targeting the health insurance industry and calling the attack a political message.
Charges Reduced, But Stakes Still High
On Tuesday, Judge Gregory Carro threw out state-level terror charges, ruling there was no legal basis to pursue them. That decision eliminated a potential first-degree murder conviction — which carries life in prison without parole.
Mangione still faces a second-degree murder charge, which carries a maximum penalty of life with the possibility of parole.
Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and current Penn State criminal justice professor, called the case “an outright premeditated murder,” and warned that while Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has stumbled in prior high-profile cases, the evidence against Mangione appears overwhelming.
The “Jury Nullification” Push
Despite the charges, Mangione’s supporters — who have raised over $1.2 million for his legal defense — believe jurors could refuse to convict based on ideology rather than law. Many demonstrators appear outside his hearings dressed as Nintendo’s Luigi, holding signs that read “Jury Nullification.”
Legal experts, however, remain skeptical.
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“This case is not a Prohibition case nor a draft-dodging situation,” Giacalone noted.
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“This is a premeditated murder, so New York will retry him over and over,” said defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden, adding that even without nullification, Mangione’s lawyers may seek a mistrial by swaying a single juror.
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Former NYPD inspector Paul Mauro was blunt: “Jury nullification could always be an issue, but I don’t think even Manhattan criminal justice has been that completely defanged.”
Extremist Copycats Raise Alarm
Federal prosecutors also allege that Mangione’s case has inspired others to commit violence.
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July 28, 2025: Shane Tamura carried out a mass shooting on Park Avenue, killing four, including an off-duty police officer, and injuring several others. Tamura reportedly left behind writings that echoed Mangione’s anti-establishment rhetoric.
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August 2025: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot by a sniper during a Utah Valley University event. Prosecutors say suspect Tyler Robinson left messages on bullets, drawing chilling parallels to Mangione’s alleged methods.
Prosecutors warned that some of Mangione’s supporters now see violence as “an acceptable, or even necessary, substitute for reasoned political disagreement.”
What Comes Next
While Mangione’s defense may explore New York’s “extreme emotional disturbance” provision to reduce charges, most experts agree jury nullification is a long shot. The case, however, has already ignited a volatile mix of political ideology, corporate resentment, and extremist sympathies — with ripple effects far beyond the courtroom.
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